US to Shoot Down Dead Satellite

Navy likely to take aim next week, after shuttle Atlantis returns

(NEWSER) - The Navy's attempt to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite will cost up to $60 million, CNN reports. Three Navy ships are preparing for the mission, which could take place next week, but only after the space shuttle Atlantis returns. The Navy hopes to destroy the satellite, which has half a ton of toxic fuel aboard, before it crashes to Earth in the next few weeks. More»

Satellites, infra-red imaging identify more than 1K tombs

(NEWSER) - An American Egyptologist thinks she’s discovered 17 buried pyramids, more than 1,000 lost tombs and 3,000 ancient settlements, using satellite photos and infra-red imaging. Ancient Egyptian structures were made out of mud brick, which is significantly denser than the surrounding soil, Dr. Sarah Parcak explains in a new BBC documentary. Those buildings show up in the infra-red images, producing detailed maps of sprawling, buried cities. More»

(NEWSER) - Space trash is becoming a serious problem, and it's long past time for housekeeping, writes the Economist. Of the 18,000 objects orbiting earth that are bigger than 4 inches across, only 900 are functioning satellites. The rest is debris, from old rocket parts and dead satellites to tools and gloves dropped by astronauts, and it poses a mounting risk to satellites crucial to communications. More»

Service will rework spot for 'Above All' campaign, release with new story line

(NEWSER) - An Air Force commercial that shows a US communications satellite exploding and implies a single missile could knock out cell phones, GPS navigation, banking transactions, and TV broadcasts has been pulled for being misleading, the Military Times reports. The ad, part of the Air Force’s “Above All” campaign will get a new story line and be re-released. More»

American gave away information on nuclear weapons, fighter jets

(NEWSER) - An 84-year old American engineer was arrested today on charges of providing information on US military technology to Israel, Reuters reports. Ben-Ami Kadish, 83, has already admitted in FBI interviews to giving an unnamed Israeli source around 100 documents on nuclear weapons, the F-15 jet and the Patriot missile defense system in 1979-85. He will be arraigned this afternoon in Manhattan. More»